Lebanese Ministry of Information
In a first step toward an environmentally friendly military, the Defense Ministry, the Lebanese Army and the European Union launched a study of Monday as an initial step toward cutting energy use. The study, titled “Sustainable Energy Strategy of the Lebanese Armed Forces,” collected data on energy use across a number of army buildings throughout the country in 2015. The data will now be used to assess areas where savings can be made and set targets for yearly usage.
To follow up on the study, initiatives have been set to achieve a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in all army-associated buildings by 2030. The target is in line with commitments made by the international community at the 2015 Paris conference on climate change.
“This innovative energy sustainability strategy, devised under the EU-funded CEDRO IV [energy] project with support from UNDP greatly complements the cooperation between the EU and Lebanon in the field of sustainable development,” EU Ambassador Christina Lassen said at the launch of the study Monday, an EU statement quoted her as saying.
When asked why the UNDP CEDRO project decided to work with the Army on the project, Hassan Harajli, project manager at UNDP CEDRO, responded, “We really thought about how the Lebanese Army is the largest public institution in the country and the most respected institution. So given our cooperation with the Army, and especially the director of engineering, we thought of laying forward an ambitious plan.”
He added that the targeted figure of 30 percent was based upon the internationally adopted 2015 Paris agreement following COP21. If Lebanon successfully reduces its emissions as planned, then it will be on par with other countries who have agreed to meet the goal.
“Climate change really is a national security issue because it will affect our social fabric, creative unemployment, a rise in food prices, create internal and external migrations. It is not something to be taken lightly,” Harajli told The Daily Star. “It requires the overall institutions both public and private, and the Lebanese Army has adopted Lebanon’s national commitments.”
The country’s overall success in achieving this goal is still contingent upon the support of the international community. Nevertheless, it is the first military in the region to have placed environmental sustainability on its list of priorities.
According to the statement, U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Sigrid Kaag noted that, “This study is the first of its kind in the entire Middle East and beyond, where an army takes the initiative to lead by example and commit to perform its duties in ways that take into account the environment.”
Those attending Monday’s launch included Defense Minister Yaacoub Sarraf, Energy Minister Cesar Abi Khalil, Lebanese Army head Gen. Joseph Aoun, Lassen and Kaag.
